Ravens are 7.5 point favorites vs. Cleveland

Las Vegas oddsmakers are showing the Baltimore Ravens some respect following their thrashing of the Bengals in Week 1 by listing them as 7.5-point home favorites this week. The point total is set at 40.5, meaning they project the final score to be roughly 24-17 Ravens.

Last season, Baltimore won in Cleveland as four point favorites by the score of 25-20 and also covered the 7.5-point spread against the Browns at home by winning 28-7. The Ravens have won 27 of 36 all-time meetings between the teams, going 20-16 against the spread.

The Ravens have won 19 of 21 home games when they have been favored by more than a touchdown since their inception. Conversely, the Browns are 7-20 against the spread as underdogs over the last three seasons. Furthermore, John Harbaugh has won 16 of 18 meetings with Cleveland since becoming the Ravens head coach. In early week wagering, 65-perent of all bets against the spread have been placed on the Browns.

Baltimore left tackle Ronnie Stanley will be given a reprieve because Myles Garrett has already been ruled out with high ankle sprain. The anticipated matchup between the top overall draft pick in the 2017 draft and the sixth overall draft pick in the 2016 draft will have to wait until Week 15 at the earliest. Outside of the generational pass rusher, Cleveland is relatively healthy entering Week 2.

Other notable matchups this week include the Bengals as 5.5-point home favorites against the Texans on Thursday night in the only listing that has a lower point total than the Ravens game. The Titans are 1.5-point road favorites in Jacksonville, the Steelers are six point home favorites against the impressive Vikings and the Broncos are two point home underdogs against Dallas.